by NIT: Investigators with the Government Accountability Office found various security vulnerabilities along the U.S.-Canadian border that terrorists could exploit to bring an unconventional weapon into this country . . . “That border is so long. Security on the border has not really increased too much since the French and Indian War, frankly,” said John Cooney, GAO assistant director for forensic audits and special investigations. Senate Finance Committee members expressed deep worries regarding security on the U.S. side of the border, the Ottawa Citizen reported. “They’re simply wide open, waiting to be crossed by anyone carrying anything — even a dirty bomb or a suitcase-type nuclear device,” said Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). “Quite frankly, it’s hard to believe there’s been so little progress in plugging these gaping security holes.”. . . “In three of the four locations on the U.S.-Canada border, investigators carried a duffel bag across the border to simulate the cross-border movement of radioactive materials or other contraband,” the agency said. Similar efforts were not attempted at the Mexico border due to “safety considerations.” The agency reported a number of other security problems.
Investigators found that state roads near or parallel to the border “were unmanned, unmonitored or both.” In one instance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers could not find investigators even after receiving reports of suspicious activity, the Citizen reported. In another case, it took guards 20 minutes to respond after security cameras caught investigators taking photographs of a closed port of entry. The guards then failed to verify the identities of the GAO personnel or to search their vehicle. “The border is not as secure as it should be in the near future and in the long term,” acknowledged Customs and Border spokesman Ronald Colburn (Sheldon Alberts, Ottawa Citizen, Sept. 28). . . . [Read More]
Investigators found that state roads near or parallel to the border “were unmanned, unmonitored or both.” In one instance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers could not find investigators even after receiving reports of suspicious activity, the Citizen reported. In another case, it took guards 20 minutes to respond after security cameras caught investigators taking photographs of a closed port of entry. The guards then failed to verify the identities of the GAO personnel or to search their vehicle. “The border is not as secure as it should be in the near future and in the long term,” acknowledged Customs and Border spokesman Ronald Colburn (Sheldon Alberts, Ottawa Citizen, Sept. 28). . . . [Read More]
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